A cancer diagnosis in 2004 altered the course of Radhika Iyer Talati’s life in ways she couldn’t have imagined. A successful entrepreneur and mother to three young children, she underwent treatment. “There
were battles of daily living post-treatment,” she says. “But I think God has given women superpowers in the form of maternal love. They get the strength to fight because of their children.”
Post-treatment, she developed severe skin conditions that led her to a naturopath, who cured in just 15-20 days what she had battled for 11 years. That was her first stint with organic living.
When confronting breast cancer again, in 2009, choosing naturopathy came easily over allopathy. “It was detected early, so this became possible,” she says.
Seeking recuperation, she travelled to the Himalayas, where Yoga was introduced to her as part of holistic healing. What began as therapy gradually evolved into a way of life.
The yogini and Yoga guru speaks with clarity and conviction born of her lived experience, both with cancer and Yoga. We caught up with her to understand her experiences and insights. Here are edited excerpts from an interview.
‘I’m Grateful For Having Had The Disease’
Talati credits cancer with helping her align with her true self, with Nature and with the universe. And with rebuilding perspective.
“If cancer had not happened to me, I wouldn’t have been here. So, I’m extremely grateful even for having had the disease. It allowed me to fight to become resilient, to be more determined to live a healthy, happy, long life,” she says.
Understanding Of Yoga Changed
“Many years ago, I’d attended an introductory Yoga class at the gym, at a three-day workshop with 30 participants. Only four people remained on the last day, and I was one of them. I took to Yoga as a fish to water,” she says.
“Later, in the Himalayas, Yoga was introduced to me as part of my treatment—alongside medicines and therapy. My understanding of Yoga has changed every bit from that moment on. I’m still learning, still studying. I’m grateful to have been born in a country, with this kind of limitless and in-depth knowledge right down to every single cell of the universe. That’s how profound the wisdom of Yoga is.”
Her studies exposed her to knowledge about various traditions – Patanjali’s Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, Tantric texts that talked about breathwork and states of being, Jain work, Buddhist philosophy. “All of them spoke the same language of Yoga.”
Why Yoga Should Be Learnt From A Spiritual Guru
“Yoga is not about the body alone. It is the coming together of your consciousness, soul, body, atman, being, mental energy, emotional and physical energy,” she explains. “It’s a big bundle of things that you require to make your practice perfect.”
“It’s an esoteric, in-depth understanding of the self – and how with that understanding you can live a very happy, peaceful, holistic life.”
“Only that spiritual teacher can do justice who has done research and much practice themselves. Someone who has dived deep into yogic philosophy, its essence, and knows every little attribute that Yoga is about.”
Intense Asana-Pranayama Routine For Healing
During her Himalayan stay, she completed intensive 200- and 300-hour Yoga courses and her first teacher training programmes.
“The Asana recommended for healing – and which I found the toughest – was Mayurasana. I also practised Halasana, Sirsasana and Viparitakarni, and was taught as many as 12 variations of Virabhadrasana,” she says.
“I practised various Pranayamas. For my healing, I was asked to practise Bhastrika, Ujjayi and Bhramari – up to 45 minutes each day. I also learnt many kriyas.”
“All limbs of Yoga were a part of my everyday practice, from Yama and Niyama – things we must do and what we must not do – to Yogasana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. I experienced Pratyahara and Dhyana to a large extent.”
“When I look back, I feel maybe this was the task I was meant to complete in this birth – and hence, this entire leela of the diseases and my learning.”
Yoga Starts As Therapy & Then Becomes Your Best Company
“Yoga alone cannot cure anything,” she clarifies. “But it can create a fantastic environment. If you’re doing your treatment and medication properly, Yoga can enhance the receptivity of that treatment 2-3 times compared to someone who’s not practising Yoga.”
“Plus, it really calms down the mind, allows the parasympathetic nervous system to reset, activates the vagus nerve, and allows for deeper, prolonged and sensible breathwork that a human being must anyway do.”
“The willingness of the individual to do it for their own good, without being forced, is important,” she adds. “Only faith allows you to pursue something that not everyone around you is pursuing.”
“Once you subscribe to its philosophies and understanding, Yoga becomes your best company, and you don’t really need anything else. But that’s at a later stage.”
Yoga Addressed Issues That Led To The Disease
“Yoga helped me understand why I had the cancer,” she reflects. “The reason is: suppressed emotions, and it’s true for all people who have cancer. The immense stress slows down metabolic activity, and through a complex process at the cellular level, you lose the physical ability to live healthy.”
“Practising Yoga helped me address these core issues. I started to understand the human body and mind, and how the universe and the body align. And how, to keep it in balance, we need to eat in a healthy way, think in a certain way, and do tasks and rituals a certain way.”
“Importantly, how human life is not meant for comfort – it is meant for physical hard work.”
Intelligence Increases, Depression And Fear Exit
“Yoga makes you aware of who you are. And you start seeing yourself in sync with everything and the energy of the entire universe – the plants, birds, animals, rivers, mountains.”
“Now your emotions and reactions in day-to-day situations change. Your resilience increases – you become more determined, more intelligent. And depression and fear do not stay with those who are intelligent.”
“Every day, views, techniques, philosophies and trends may change. Yet, human life is real, and so are emotions. The brass tacks are to understand who you are and what your purpose is. Then every day is a new day; you see the large picture, and it’s beautiful how this world functions.”
Yoga Taught Me To Relate To People
“I was glad to discover the real me, very proud. I also started seeing the world as one family – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. I can easily walk up to someone and hug them, which I would never be able to do before. I’ve understood that we’re all the same: everything that’s happening in your life has happened, or will happen, in mine also. I stopped isolating myself.”
“When one person becomes wise, they know how to not hurt themselves. They know how to navigate the path of conflict.”
The Entrepreneur, Now Into Wellness
“I’ve been an entrepreneur since 1998, working in bespoke, boutique, decor,” she says.
“In 2009, I started a Yoga centre by the name of ‘RAA’, and it just took off because I taught with dedication. All the earnings of ten years went into a Trust, and I started a Foundation in 2019. And then Anahata Organic happened and we’re managing to keep the company afloat.”
“I think entrepreneurship runs in my blood and perhaps that’s why I’m in Gujarat; some unfinished business from last births,” she laughs.
Yoga Should Be Like A Guardian In Families
“Yoga is not a tool to live a good life — it should be life itself,” she says.
“Because we are all interconnected, we must watch what we think, what we eat, the company we keep, and what we absorb.”
“For everyone who wants to live a healthy and peaceful life, Yoga should be like a guardian in your families – learn to do Asanas, know at least three Pranayamas and practise every day. Every child above six years should be exposed to meditation.”
“As parents and grandparents, it’s our duty to pass on this knowledge –, which we received because we were born in this land. We must pass it on to the next generation and take a promise that they will do the same,” she concludes.
The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@gmail.com
